joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Melissa Muammar Gaddafi." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmelissamuammargaddafi@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 10:34:24 +0100
Subject: Re. My Dear Friend, Am still waiting to hear from you..

My Dear Friend,
 
I am happy to know you, but God knows you better and he knows why he has directed me to you at this point in time so do not be afraid. I saw your contact number at ministries of commerce and foreign trade departments. I am writing this mail to you with heavy sorrow in my heart, my name is Mrs. Melissa Muammar Gaddafi.
 
I am sure you are aware of Libya war, As a consequence, many assets and funds belonging to Col.Gaddafi's family  are being frozen by western government,
And am contacting you because I don’t have any other option than to tell you as I was touched to open up to you, I am married to Mr. Muttasin Muammar Gaddafi who worked with Libyan embassy in South Africa for ten years before he died in the year 2005.we were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only five days.
 
Since his death I decided not to remarry again, when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US $85.500,000.00  (Eighty Five Million Five hundred thousand dollars) in a Bank in Thread needle Bank of Africa, presently this money is still in Bank. He made this money available for exportation of gold from South Africa.Recently, my doctor told me that I would not last for the period of seven months due to cancer problem. Whoever that wants to serve god must serve him in spirit and truth because God is the most high; please always be prayerful all through your life.
 
The one that disturbs me most is my cancer sickness. Having known my condition I decided to hand you over this money and the Gold to take care of the less-privileged people, you will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.I want you to take 40 percent of the total money for your personal use while 60% of the money will go to charity" people in the street and helping the orphanage.
- Hide quoted text -
 
I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not good not even good at all because they are the one that responsible for the death of my late husband in other to have all my late husband properties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by those that conspired for his death. I grew up as an orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member, just to Endeavor that the name of God is maintained... am doing this so that God will forgive my sins and accept my soul because this sickness has suffered me so much.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in Africa and I will send authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of the money that is if you assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
 
Also I want you to go to the bank manager one on one to meet them for the claim because I don’t need any delay; if you are ready to claim the fund I need you to go and see with your eyes. Hoping to receive your reply via my Privet Email: mrsmelissamuammargaddafi@hotmail.com
 
You’re sincerely
Mrs. Melissa Muammar Gaddafi.

Anti-fraud resources: